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Wednesday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
ATS Rankings | Totals Report | Injuries

Game of the Night: Pistons at Lakers – 10:35 PM EST

Although both these teams have struggled of late, each squad is seeking its second win in January. The Pistons (17-21 SU, 17-20-1 ATS) embark on a four-game Western Conference road swing following back-to-back home losses to Utah and San Antonio. Detroit jumped out to huge leads early in each of those games, but melted down each time as an underdog to fall to 2-7 the last nine games. The Pistons are riding a 5-1 OVER stretch the past six contests, while allowing at least 109 points in each of their last five defeats.

The Lakers (22-19 SU, 17-23-1 ATS) have played the last seven games without LeBron James, winning only twice. James remains sidelined with a groin injury and isn’t rushing to return to the court, as the Lakers snapped a three-game skid in Sunday’s 107-97 triumph at Dallas as 7 ½-point underdogs. Los Angeles ended a 14-game stretch in which it allowed at least 100 points as the Lakers yielded 30 second half points after trailing at halftime, 67-54. Brandon Ingram led the Lakers with 29 points, while L.A. overcame a 4-of-20 shooting performance from Kyle Kuzma.

Detroit has captured four of the past five meetings with Los Angeles, but the Lakers knocked off the Pistons at Staples Center last season, 113-93 as three-point underdogs. Since starting the season with a 12-4 home mark, the Lakers have dropped four of the past five at Staples Center, including losses as a favorite against the Grizzlies and Knicks.

But, First

A battle of first place teams hook up at the Toyota Center as the Rockets look to stay hot at home against the Bucks. Houston (23-16 SU, 20-18-1 ATS) is riding a 10-game home winning streak and hasn’t lost at the Toyota Center since late November. The Rockets have won 12 of the past 14 games overall, including Monday’s 125-113 triumph over the Nuggets as one-point favorites. James Harden led the Rockets with 32 points and 14 assists as Houston enters tonight’s contest listed as a home underdog for the third time since Christmas.

Milwaukee (28-11 SU, 22-15-2 ATS) remains undefeated off a loss this season after rallying past Utah on Monday, 114-102 to cash as 5 ½-point favorites. The Bucks outscored the Jazz, 31-16 in the fourth quarter, while Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and pulled down 10 rebounds before fouling out. Milwaukee owns a 5-2 road record in the last seven games since losing in overtime at New York on December 1. The Rockets swept the Bucks last season, while Houston has captured eight of the past 10 meetings since 2014.

Seeing Green

The Celtics (24-15 SU, 21-18 ATS) have picked things up at home since dropping back-to-back games at TD Garden to the Suns and Bucks in late December. Boston is in the midst of a five-game home winning streak, while trying to pull off a perfect 4-0 homestand. The latest victory for Brad Stevens’ squad came in Monday’s 116-95 blowout of the unrested Nets as 10 ½-point favorites, as Boston has now covered the spread in 13 of 14 home wins this season.

Boston welcomes in Indiana to Beantown as the Pacers (27-13 SU, 21-19 ATS) continue their five-game road trip. Indiana has won seven of its past eight games overall, including last night’s 123-115 win at Cleveland. Unfortunately, the Pacers couldn’t hold onto a 22-point lead after the first quarter as the Cavaliers picked up the cover as 9 ½-point underdogs. Indiana has failed to cash in four consecutive games, while hitting the OVER in six straight contests. The Pacers seek their second win over the Celtics this season after edging Boston, 102-101 as 3 ½-point home underdogs in early November.

Tighten the Bootstraps

Following a shaky start, the Spurs (24-17 SU, 25-15-1 ATS) have caught fire and ascending towards the top of the Southwest division. San Antonio has covered seven consecutive games overall, while picking up wins in each of the past five trips to the court. The Spurs erased an early double-digit deficit in Monday’s 119-107 victory at Detroit as 2 ½-point favorites, led by a combined 51-point effort from DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge on 21-of-33 shooting from the floor.

The Spurs remain on the highway with a visit to Memphis as the two division rivals have split a pair of matchups in San Antonio. The Grizzlies (18-22 SU, 17-23 ATS) are going the wrong way at the moment by dropping six straight games, while riding a dreadful 1-9 ATS record in the past 10 contests. Memphis began the season with a 7-1 record at FedEx Forum, but the Grizzlies have slipped to 3-8 in the past 11 home contests.

Good to See You Again

The 76ers (27-14 SU, 20-21 ATS) overcame a slow start on Tuesday to rout the Wizards (16-25 SU, 16-25 ATS) as eight-point favorites, 132-115. Former Wichita State standout Landry Shamet knocked down eight three-pointers and scored 29 points off the bench for Philadelphia, who improved to 18-3 at home and 6-3 in the last nine matchups with Washington. However, the three losses have come at Capital One Arena since 2017 as the Sixers make the short trip to D.C. tonight for the back end of a home-and-home set.

Washington had covered four straight games prior to last night’s beatdown as the Wizards begin a tough six-game homestand that includes visits from Milwaukee, Toronto, and Golden State in the next two weeks. The Wizards have caught fire at home of late by winning eight of the past 10 games in the Nation’s Capital, including victories over the Clippers, Rockets, and Lakers. Washington has cashed in three of the past four opportunities as a home underdog with the only loss coming in overtime to Boston last month.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

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